LIVE HERE

This is a city of momentum and energy with strong institutions
like Fortune 500 companies, urban universities and technical colleges,
hospitals, arts and civil rights organizations, and churches deeply rooted
in the community and on the front lines of positive change.
We love it here, and we know you will, too.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Over one million people live within 50 minutes of downtown
Little Rock. So, twelve central Arkansas counties and their
unique communities are united to compete as one common,
globally recognized brand – Little Rock. $2.2 billion new
capital investment, $518 million new annual payroll, and 15,480
jobs later, the results are indisputable and historically
unprecedented.

MEMBERSHIP

The Little Rock Regional Chamber is the principal business-driven
leadership organization responsible for fostering the economic
growth and development of the Little Rock region to ensure
that business and industry may operate profitably and enhance
the earning opportunities and quality of life for every citizen.
The chamber helps you maximize your business.

ADVOCACY

From City Hall to the halls of Congress, the Little Rock Regional
Chamber is the voice of business for the region, at all levels of government.
The chamber works to advance policies and legislation to create and sustain an
environment in which businesses thrive. We communicate constantly with elected
officials to be sure that your interests are protected and served.

You Can't Get VC Funding for Your Startup. Now What?

When push comes to shove, a good idea, even a great one, is nothing without the practical back end. And it's at this point that young entrepreneurs who can’t self-fund their startups or obtain money from friends and family traditionally realize their limited choices: angel investor, crowdfunding or venture capitalists.

The problem is that angel investors are hard to find and even harder to lock down; and crowdfunding not only includes platform fees but is not very effective for non-consumer/B2C services.

The logical choice, therefore, becomes VC funding. To go this route, startups must partake in a tedious and long process that doesn't guarantee success. And at the end of the process, most startups are still rejected by VC investors: According to Fundable, only .05 percent of startups are funded this way.

So, what to do? Entrepreneurs may feel helpless and unsure of the other alternatives they have, but they should take heart because there are other paths to take to launch a company, some very popular, and others virtually unknown. Here are a few options:

CVC funding is an opportunity for startups, particularly tech startups, to get a head start. This method is popular because individual startups are generally granted greater independence, compared to what occurs with standard VC funding; but entrepreneurs must be mindful that it may limit their own decision-making flexibility on strategic options.

Microloans

Many private companies and non-profits offer small loans that range between $500 and $50,000, with the average around $13,000. Examples of microloans include SBA and small office/home office loans, known by the acronym SOHO.

Peer-to-peer lending

Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending offers another solution for small businesses. With this model, borrowers and lenders are connected via various online platforms. Loans here usually range from about $1,000 to about $35,000, and there is about 5 percent in additional closing costs.